Driving in the snow

[wiiawiwb]

I bought my second Prius about 3 months ago. The first, a 2005 model, was absolutely horrible in the snow even though I used dedicated Nokian winter tires.

I live in upstate NY so snow is something that is unavoidable. I am fortunate to live in a flat area but am considering buying a house on a hill (not a mountain). I don't think there's any way my 2005 could have made an incline in snow. My 2008 hasn't been tested in the snow yet but I don't know why it would be any different.

Can any of you share your experience of being able, or not able, to drive in the snow up an incline?

[qbee42]

The 2008 is different because the traction control system has been modified. It is much less aggressive on the newer Prius. You will still have trouble with the OEM tires, but it works pretty well with good winter tires - still not a Jeep, but about what you would expect from any front wheel drive car. VSC works great if you get a model with that.

Tom

[Flying White Dutchman]

is the better 2006 model traction control not a software change?
so wy can the pre 2006 models not get that update?

[David Beale]

My 2007 worked very well in snow last winter, with Nokian WR tires (new). It actually worked well last week on mud covered with wood chips. I had to use a lot of throttle to make it move, and you could feel it was very soft. Reverse was really entertaining, being electric only and therefore power limited, I was just able to make the car move. I was surprised I didn't get stuck (was wondering if AMA -AAA would come out to the field I was driving in). Never tripped the TC light.

The traction control firmware is in a separate module, appearantly not writeable. Tideland's module was replaced (as per older posts) to get his upgraded.

[wiiawiwb]

Originally Posted by qbee42

The 2008 is different because the traction control system has been modified. It is much less aggressive on the newer Prius. You will still have trouble with the OEM tires, but it works pretty well with good winter tires - still not a Jeep, but about what you would expect from any front wheel drive car. VSC works great if you get a model with that.

Tom

Tom,

My 2008 (package #2) does have VSC and my 2005 (package#6) also had it too. I'm pleased to hear the TRAC has been modified to be less aggressive and hopefully I can move about normally on roads. The tough part before was always going up a hill at slow speeds or from a start.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by wiiawiwb

Tom,

My 2008 (package #2) does have VSC and my 2005 (package#6) also had it too. I'm pleased to hear the TRAC has been modified to be less aggressive and hopefully I can move about normally on roads. The tough part before was always going up a hill at slow speeds or from a start.

Slow speed up a slippery hill is hard with any car, and still the most difficult mode for the traction control system. They key is to keep moving and keep enough pressure on the gas pedal. With the new trac system you can actually spin the tires, albeit at a slow rate. If you hold the pedal down they will turn, stop, and turn, kind of like this: "Rumph, rumph, rumph, rumph...". I have also been able to rock my Prius by shifting back and forth between D and R. It rocks much better than a normal automatic.

Our 2006 Prius with VSC is the best handling winter car I've ever owned, and this includes a Jeep C-J5, a Subaru 4wd, and a Ford Aerostar with 4wd. I can't even tell if the road is slippery. The Prius just tracks down the road and automatically compensates for the slippery spots. I have to remind myself that the road is slippery and that the laws of physics still apply, otherwise I am likely to over-drive the conditions. The only problem comes with deep snow, since the Prius is not a truck, or with ice where nothing can move.

I have had problems with loose gravel on steep driveways. The traction control seems particularly confused by that combination. With the OEM Goodyear Integraty tires I had a lot of trouble with that. Better tires help a lot, but I still fear loose gravel.

Tom

[David Beale]

I don't think VSC has anything to do with the ability to move on slippery surfaces. It works when you are moving and start to slide (mainly on corners). It's the traction control system (separate from the VSC) that affects the ability to go on slippery surfaces. All Prius have the same traction control system, other than minor changes after 2005 that allow the system to keep trying to go.
When I got Pearl last year, she was very unsure on gravel roads. After changing to the Nokian WR tires Pearl is very good on gravel roads. Do be aware that the Nokian WRs tend to throw small rocks though.

[GreenIsGood]

We didn't have a huge amount of snow in our area this year, but certainly enough to make roads a challenge. I was pleasantly surprised by our car's performance (we have hills and more hills, everywhere) on some pretty bad roads.

This, with the original tires. I think we'll spring for something better this winter if I can make up my mind (seems this forum favors several).

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by David Beale

I don't think VSC has anything to do with the ability to move on slippery surfaces. It works when you are moving and start to slide (mainly on corners). It's the traction control system (separate from the VSC) that affects the ability to go on slippery surfaces. All Prius have the same traction control system, other than minor changes after 2005 that allow the system to keep trying to go.
When I got Pearl last year, she was very unsure on gravel roads. After changing to the Nokian WR tires Pearl is very good on gravel roads. Do be aware that the Nokian WRs tend to throw small rocks though.

This is completely true about VSC. My comments about VSC relate to how well the Prius handles in the snow with VSC. In no way did I mean to imply that VSC was related to traction.

Tom

[mingoglia]

Living in the Phoenix area, and it being in the dead of summer led me to open this thread so I could dream of cooler times.... it worked, carry on.